This Week's Focal Passage:
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:9, 11 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Door #2374 thura - used of any opening like a door, an entrance, way or passage
Pasture #3542 nome - food
Good #2570 kalos - good, excellence in its nature and characteristics, genuine, approved
The Christmas season is upon us once again and the world is in a frenzy of last minute shopping, parties, social events, wrapping, traveling, and trying to make sure everything is in order and ready for the big event. Unfortunately, the "big event" to some people is based on family, gifts, and time off of work and school. Certainly, those things are not bad things. In fact, each one is actually a reason to celebrate; however, the problem with that is that some people focus their celebrating on those things alone. They miss the true meaning we have Christmas.
I am sure we are all familiar with the Christmas story, but let's take a moment to read through it.
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"…And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger…Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told to them." (Luke 2:1, 3-14, 16, 20)
Christmas is the time for the world to reflect upon the birth of Christ Jesus. Why? "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) My Friend, without Christ Jesus coming to earth to live, die and rise again, no one would have hope. No one would have peace. No one would escape eternal damnation (hell). And worst of all, no one would have salvation that provides access to the Most High God. By coming to earth in the form of a man, yet being fully God, Christ Jesus became the door by which we have access to the Lord God. "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come, that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:9- 11)
The Christmas story began way before the birth of Christ. The Christmas story was put into motion before the foundations of the world were formed through Christ Jesus (John 1:1-4). God knew that man would chose to sin against Him, yet His love for man provided a perfect sacrifice that would pay that sin debt. A debt that man himself could never pay. Nothing man does, says, achieves, provides or makes restitution for would erase the sin and provide access to a holy God. Because God is love (1 John 4:8), HE put His prophecies in the mouths of the prophets informing the generations that the Messiah was coming and HE would bear the sins of the world and set His people free from sin and self thus glorifying Himself. Isaiah foretold the coming of the King of kings in verses 6-7. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
God's heart toward us is peace (Jeremiah 29:11) and His purpose is to provide for us a way to glorify Him through the salvation that Christ Jesus alone offers. Let's pause here a moment. Did you hear that with your heart? God's heart toward us is peace? How can that be?!?! We are sinners whose sins crucified Christ Jesus His Son, yet God's thinks thoughts of peace, hope, eternal future towards us. That alone is a reason to celebrate, and not just one day a year, but ALL day EVERY day until we draw our final breath!! God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8); however, God took the time to record in His Word who HE is, how much HE loves us, and the way in which sinners can be set free and enter into His presence (2 Timothy 3:16-17). My Friend, that Truth should make our hearts sing with overflowing joy, our feet dance in pure delight, and our mouths praise Him forever and ever without ceasing!!
May we each sit at the feet of the One who gave Himself for us and praise Him with a heart of purity, righteousness, and in holy reverence because HE gave us that privilege and that new heart. HE alone made us new creations in Him when we surrendered our life to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you are reading this today, and your heart has been prompted by the Lord God and HE has opened your eyes to your need for His salvation, please do not hesitate. Bow your head and confess that need to the Lord God, ask Him to heal you through the forgiveness of His blood and to make you a new creation in Him and for Him. May God pour Himself upon you and in you and fill you with His Truth.
As we gather with our families and friends during this Christmas season, may the Lord not allow us to open a gift without first recognizing that HE alone is the only gift with eternal worth the only gift worth having or receiving. And that HE alone is the One who came, died and rose again so that we would have a reason to celebrate. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
